South London groups slam Iraq inquiry

THE Iraq War inquiry is “powerless and pointless”, according to South London campaign groups.
Anti-war protesters have hit out at the Chilcot Enquiry because it doesn’t have the power to charge former Prime Minister Tony Blair as a war criminal.
Colin Wilson, of Stop the War Lambeth, said: “This inquiry is completely pointless.
"It has absolutely no power to challenge Blair on the terms in which he should be tried.
“Tony Blair should face legal proceeding at the International Court in The Hague.
"He has broken international law and therefore should be tried as a war criminal.”
The Chilcott Inquiry was launched last July 30 to identify lessons that can be learned from the Iraq conflict.
A report of the findings will be published this summer and its content debated in Parliament.
Campaigners also disputed Blair’s claim that the world was safer without Saddam Hussein.
Wandsworth Stop The War chairman John Clossick, who heckled Blair as he left the inquiry held at the QEII Conference Centre in London last Friday, said: “Blair said that if we had not removed Saddam in 2003 the world would be much more dangerous.
“But the Iraq War has turned virtually every country in the Middle East into a hot bed of terrorist activity.
“It has made it easy for militant groups to recruit young Muslims.
“Blair and Bush have increased the threat of global terrorism.”
But Mr Blair was unrepentant after being summoned last week, telling the inquiry panel he was right to go to war.
He said: “I have not a regret for removing Saddam Hussein. I think he was a monster.
"I think he threatened not just a region but the world.”
Prime Minster Gordon Brown is due to give evidence at the inquiry next month.